Statue of Isma'il Samani in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Isma'il ibn Ahmad (d. November 907) was the Samanid amir of Transoxiana (892-907) and Khurasan (900-907). His reign saw the emergence of the Samanids as a powerful force. He was the son of Ahmad ibn Asad. Dushanbe (Душанбе), population 562,000 people (2000 census), is the capital of Tajikistan. ... Events Oleg leads Kievan Rus in a campaign against Constantinople Yelü Abaoji establishes Liao (Khitan) dynasty Births Deaths Categories: 907 ... The Samanids (875-999) (in Persian: Samanian) were a Persian dynasty in Central Asia and eastern Iran, named after its founder Saman Khoda. ... Events Poppo of Thuringia, count of the march in Thuringia,is deposed by the German Carolingian king Arnulf of Carinthia Arnulf of Carinthia invades Great Moravia Duke Guido of Spoleto crowned Roman Emperor in April The former Silla general Gyeonhwon attacks the city of Gwangju and declares himself king. ... Khorasan (also spelled Khurasan and Khorassan; خراسان in Persian) is an area, located in eastern and northeastern Iran. ... Events Persian scientist, Rhazes, distinguished smallpox from measles in the course of his writings. ...

During his brother Nasr's reign, Isma'il was sent to take control of Bukhara, which had been devastated by looting on the part of forces from Khwarazm. The citizens of the city welcomed Isma'il, seeing him as someone who could bring stability. Nasr I (d. ... Bukhara (Tajik: Бухоро; Persian: ‎, Buxârâ; Uzbek: ; Russian: ), from the Soghdian βuxārak (lucky place), is the fifth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and capital of the Bukhara Province (viloyat). ... Khiva (alternative names include Khorasam, Khoresm, Khwarezm, Khwarizm, Khwarazm, Chiwa and Chorezm) is a city in present day Uzbekistan, in the Province of Khorezm. ...

Soon afterwards, a disagreement over where tax money should be distributed caused a falling out between Nasr and Isma'il. A struggle ensued, in which Isma'il proved victorious. Although he took effective control of the state, he did not formally overthrow his brother, instead remaining in Bukhara. He did so because Nasr had been the one whom the Caliph had given the formal investiture of Transoxiana to; in the caliph's eyes, Nasr was the only legitimimate ruler of the region. Furthermore, the Saffarids of Sistan had claims on Transoxiana; the overthrow of Nasr would have given the Saffarids a pretext for invading. Isma'il therefore continued to formally recognize Nasr as ruler until the latter's death in August of 892, at which point he officially took power. Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Map showing modern Transoxiana. ... The Saffarid dynasty of Persia ruled a short-lived empire centred on Seistan, a border district between modern-day Afghanistan and Iran, between AD 861-1003. ... Categories: Iran geography stubs | Provinces of Iran ... Events Poppo of Thuringia, count of the march in Thuringia,is deposed by the German Carolingian king Arnulf of Carinthia Arnulf of Carinthia invades Great Moravia Duke Guido of Spoleto crowned Roman Emperor in April The former Silla general Gyeonhwon attacks the city of Gwangju and declares himself king. ...

Isma'il was active to the north and east, steadily spreading Samanid influence. In 893 he took the city of Talas, the capital of the Qarluq Turks. It was probably in that same year that he also brought an end to the Ustrushana dynasty. During his reign he subjugated numerous regional states to the east, directly incorporating some within his boundaries and retaining the local rulers of others as vassals. Khwarazm to the north was partitioned; the southern part remained autonomous under its Afrigid rulers, while the northern part was governed by a Samanid official. Another campaign in 903 further secured the Samanid boundaries. These campaigns kept the heart of his state safe from Turkish raids, and allowed Muslim missionaries to expand their activities in the region. Events Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as king of Bulgaria. ... Talas is a small town in northwestern Kyrgyzstan, beautifully located in a long valley between two imposing mountain ranges. ... Events Vikings invade England. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ...

Even after Nasr's death, the caliph had still not formally recognized his rule in Bukhara. As a result, the Saffarid ruler 'Amr himself asked the caliph for the investiture of Transoxiana. Al-Mu'tadid, who allegedly hoped that a conflict between the Samanids and the Saffarids would result in the destruction of both, granted this request in 898. 'Amr then marched up north with an army. The two sides fought, often to the south of the Oxus, until in the spring of 900 'Amr was captured by the Samanids. Isma'il wished to ransom him to the Saffarids, but they refused, so he sent 'Amr to the caliph, who then invested Isma'il with Khurasan, Tabaristan, Ray, and Isfahan. Al-Mutadid (d. ... Events Accession of Pope John IX Accession of King Kasyapa IV of Sri Lanka Magyar army headed by Álmos besieges Kiev Magyar tribes found state of Szekesfahervar in Hungary Bologna joins Italian Kingdom End of Yodit era in Ethiopia Foundation of Bhaktapur in Nepal Births Deaths Category: ... The Amu Darya (in Persian آمودریا; Darya means river in Persian) rises in the Pamirs and flows mainly north-west through the Hindu Kush, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to join the Aral Sea in a large river delta. ... Mazandaran (مازندران in Persian) is a province in northern Iran, bordering the Caspian Sea in the north. ... Ray may refer to: A fish in the order Batoidea, especially true rays of the family Rajiformes, such as stingrays Ray (optics), an idealized narrow beam of light An electrical ray, an old name for a laser beam Radiation, emission of energy in the form of waves or particles Ray... Part of Shah Abbas large urban project in his new capital, the Chahār Bāgh Four Gardens, is a four-kilometer avenue in the city of Isfahan. ...

Isma'il decided to take advantage of the caliph's grant by sending an army to Tabaristan, which was then controlled by the Zaydid Muhammad ibn Zaid. The Samanid army defeated and killed Muhammad, but then Isma'il's general Muhammad ibn Harun revolted. In 901 Isma'il led an army into Tabaristan, forcing Muhammad to flee to Dailam. The Samanids therefore gained control of the region. Zaydid was the name of an Alid dynasty that ruled Tabaristan. ... Events Mesoamerican ballgame court dedicated at Uxmal Kingdom of Taebong established in Korean peninsula Fuzhou city was expanded with construction of a new city wall (Luo City). Births Deaths February 18 - Thabit ibn Qurra, Arab astronomer and mathematician Categories: 901 ...

Although Isma'il continued to send gifts to the caliph, as was customary, he neither paid tribute or taxes. For all intents and purposes he was an independent ruler, although he never took any title higher than that of amir.

After a long sickness Isma'il died in 907 and was succeeded by his son Ahmad. Ahmad II (d. ...

References

• R. N. Frye (1975). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume Four: From the Arab Invasion to the Saljuqs. ISBN 0-521-20093-8